"Prayer, Let's Pray for One Another"

Dear Friends,

Next Sunday, there will be prayer team members stationed in the front of the church following each of our services. As I shared last week, they will be available each Sunday to pray with and for anyone who has a need. The Word of God encourages “to bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2), and one way we can do this is through prayer.

The promise of God is that “the prayer of a righteous person has great power in its working” (James 5:16). Does this mean that only the prayers of the super spiritual prayer warrior will be heard? No, not at all. The word righteous in the Bible refers to whoever has faith in Jesus, and as a result is the recipient of His righteousness. If you are a believer that is you. As a believer who has trusted in Jesus Christ, you have received his righteousness. No you are not perfect, and no you are not special in the sense that your prayers are more powerful. It simply means because you are in right standing with Jesus, your prayers are effectual, that is they can effect change.

Prayer is a powerful way through which we grow closer to God and closer to one another. Praying for others draw us closer to them. Jesus tells us we are to pray “in His name” (John 14:13-14). If you do something “in the name” of someone else, it means you do it according to His wishes. Therefore, the better you know and understand God, the more effective you will be for you will know how and what to pray for. The more you know the heart of God, the better able you will be to pray for those things that are in accord with His heart’s desire.

There are times when we won’t know what and how to pray for someone, or when we are asked to pray for something that we truly sense is not a part of His will. This can be awkward, but not if we pray that whatever is asked for will glorify the Father. In John 14:13 Jesus promised, “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” In every situation it is appropriate to pray “that the Father be glorified”, even if you feel uncomfortable about praying for something someone asks you to pray for while your heart tells you the request is wrong.

My hope is that each one of you will avail yourself of the opportunity to come forward to seek prayer whenever the Holy Spirit prompts you.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Pastor Tom

PS The above thoughts were drawn from the following online articles “Pray for One Another” by Donald Whitney and “Why is Praying for others Important.org”

New Monmouth Musings: “New Monmouth to Begin Prayer Ministry Following Services”

Dear Friend,

Who are those prayer people up front in the sanctuary after services you might ask? Well, they are part of our spiritual family who are committed to praying for one another.  Whether you desire to receive Christ, ask for prayer for a friend or family member, or seek help for some struggle you are having, the opportunity will soon exist to  share your concern following services with a prayer team member.

In the next few weeks, we will be reintroducing our prayer team ministry. Each Sunday following services, prayer team members will be available in the front of the church to meet and pray with those seeking prayer. Now I know some of you may think, I'm not going forward to ask for prayer; I can do that all by myself, and I don't need anyone's help. Yes, that is true, but the Word of God commends us to pray for one another, encourage one another, lift one another up, and bear one another's burdens, and how can we do these things if we don't know how and what to pray for? 

It is a Christian's responsibility to pray for one another, and the New Testament makes that very clear. James commands us "to pray for one another," and such prayer is not limited for just the sick. Repeatedly, the Apostle Paul pleads, "Brothers, pray for us" (see also 1 Thess. 5:25; 2 Thess 3:1). His letters to the churches testify of his prayers for them (Eph. 1:15-23; 2 Thess. 3:1). Even Jesus Himself asked for the prayers of Peter, James, and John in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:38, 40-41).

I hope we will get over what some may feel to be the awkwardness of asking for prayer, admitting our needs, and seeking help from someone in the family. 

Of course, you don't have to come forward for prayer. You can pray right in the pews before and after services, and I am continually encouraged when I see you doing that. I am also encouraged when I see people laying hands on someone in the Family Ministry Center and praying because in the course of their conversation someone expressed a need for prayer. When needs are expressed, pray right then for those needs. Don't wait. "May I pray for you" is the response and do it right there wherever you happen to be. Too often we say we are going to pray and then for whatever reason our commitment is forgotten.

The way to encourage people to participate in our prayer ministry is for you to periodically come forward when you have a need.  If no one ever takes advantage of the opportunity to ask for prayer in an environment where prayer should be a natural response to what has taken place in worship, we will miss the opportunity of experiencing the wonderful blessing that comes when others pray with us and for us.

Remember, the tragedy of our day is not unanswered prayer-but unoffered prayer.

Yours in faith and friendship,
Pastor Tom